Chris Olave DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

ESPN's Katherine Terrell reports that the New Orleans Saints are picking up wide receiver Chris Olave's fifth-year option on Wednesday. Despite playing in a career-low eight games in 2024 in his third year in the NFL due to multiple concussions, the Saints picking up the former first-rounder's fifth-year option was a no-brainer. The 24-year-old Ohio State alumni is scheduled to make $16.8 million guaranteed on his fifth-year option in 2026. Olave cleared 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first two NFL seasons on 159 total receptions and nine touchdowns, so he has proven he has the chops to operate as a WR1 for fantasy managers when he's healthy. However, his head injuries from last year could scare many fantasy managers off this fall, as well as New Orleans' quarterback situation with Derek Carr possibly needing shoulder surgery.

According to Katherine Terrell of ESPN, the New Orleans Saints have ruled out wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) for Sunday's regular season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The star wideout has been sidelined since suffering his second concussion of the season during their Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Even though Olave has been able to participate in practice as a full participant over the past two weeks, Olave has not been able to pass the league's protocol to officially suit up. The 24-year-old has only been able to participate in just six full games this season. Across this small sample size, Olave tallied at least 80 receiving yards in four of them and found the end zone once. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kevin Austin to lead the passing attack on Sunday.

The New Orleans Saints have listed wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) as questionable to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi said the decision on whether Olave plays will be "all-encompassing." Olave has been practicing in full for the last two weeks, but Saints have already been eliminated from the playoffs, and NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill says he'd be surprised if the 24-year-old is allowed to suit up. The former first-round pass-catcher hasn't played since suffering his second concussion of the season back in Week 9, so even if he were to return this weekend, he probably wouldn't see his usual number of snaps on offense. He'll need to come off Injured Reserve on Saturday if the Saints want to let him play. Olave had a 32-400-1 line in eight games before suffering his second concussion.